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Practical Martial Arts
5 ★★★★★ 31 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Corte Madera, California
Authentic Thai — reviews and the gym's own info point to coaching rooted in Thailand's muay thai tradition. If lineage matters to you, ask where the coaches trained and about their kru.
Plan your first class
- Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
- Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- Kids & youth classes kids and youth muay thai classes (ages 4–17) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Sparring & clinch sparring and clinch sessions for members ready for controlled contact — always optional and coach-supervised
- Fight team a competition team for members who want to test themselves as amateur fighters
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule pmadojo.com — book classes and see the live schedule
Hours
| Monday | 2:30–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 2:30–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 2:30–8 PM |
| Thursday | 2:30–8 PM |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 8:30 AM–1 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Sensei Mike and Karen have created a wonderful environment for kids to learn, have fun, and develop the skills they need to become strong, disciplined, kind and patient adults.”
“This dojo has produced some very skilled fighters and the students who have trained here clearly have a step above the rest.”
“incredible practical self-defense teaching, incredible community of people.”
Other martial arts here
“Nervous about training in a new space and unfamiliar with the art of BJJ, he was welcomed into the PMA community not only with open arms but an open mind.”
What members say
“I truly feel that they care about each and every one of their students and over time have become like family to me.”
“Their programs are expertly tailored for each age and my kids have absolutely loved their time there.”
“We don't dare pretend sword fight with my daughter, or be near here when she wants to hit us with something, because she was taught to strike hard and throw with all her might.”
“Sensei Mike and Karen have created a wonderful environment for kids to learn, have fun, and develop the skills they need to become strong, disciplined, kind and patient adults.”
From the reviews
I have been a loyal member of this dojo for 16+ years. Over the course of my lifetime, I've trained at MANY martial arts schools but they usually don't last more than a couple of years. There is just something magical about this place that keeps me here (and many others that I know).
My son has been training at Practical Martial Arts in Corte Madera for over two and a half years — and he absolutely loves it. The instructors are incredible with kids. They know how to teach discipline, respect, and focus while still making every class engaging and fun.
Best Best Best place run by the best people ever! Karen and Mike are incredible with kids of all ages, seriously, these people are amazing. Huge hearts, and quality people. Sensei Mike and his love Karen are both black belts (like 5 or 10 times?) Cray.
My three children, ages 10, 12, and 15, started at this dojo a few months after we moved to Marin. After doing a bit of research we contacted PMA. Our first interactions via email were warm and welcoming, our initial trial class was so fantastic that the kids wanted to join right then and there, and since then, we've…
New to muay thai? Start at Practical Martial Arts
Practical Martial Arts comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never thrown a punch or a kick, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the conditioning to you. Second, you won't be thrown into sparring — reputable gyms build fundamentals (stance, footwork, and the basic strikes of the "art of eight limbs") for weeks before any contact, and sparring stays optional. Third, all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first muay thai class at Practical Martial Arts
Nervous about walking into a muay thai gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling the basics on pads and bags — not fighting. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: shorts or athletic wear and a t-shirt; you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and hand wraps if you have them — many gyms lend gloves for a first class, so it's worth asking. As you keep training you'll add your own gloves, wraps, a mouthguard, and shin guards. Sparring is optional and comes later, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.
More muay thai gyms near Corte Madera
Old School Martial Arts
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